Jens Härtel, the former second-division coach who had been in the headlines for discriminatory remarks, has been sanctioned by the German Football Association’s (DFB) sports court with a twelve-week ban from carrying out his duties. The federation announced the ruling.
For three incidents of discriminatory and unsportsmanlike conduct, Härtel was barred from exercising his coaching duties for twelve weeks, according to the DFB’s statement. Eight weeks of this ban must be served immediately. “The remaining four weeks will be suspended on probation for a period of one year,” the notice added.
The background is that the 57-year-old had stepped down from his post as a youth coach with Bundesliga club 1. FC Union Berlin following a disciplinary motion filed by the DFB Control Committee. The committee had requested a multi-week ban against the Berlin-based U19 coach over allegations of discriminatory remarks during training, Union said.
Härtel acknowledged that he had made mistakes and, in a club statement issued on Sunday, apologized. He said he had informed the club that he would not coach for the time being and would use the period for personal reflection. The DFB also required Härtel to participate in conflict-resolution and de-escalation training offered by the central contact point for violence, discrimination, and extremism cases, or an equivalent institution.
Against Härtel, who had previously coached in the 2. Bundesliga for 1. FC Magdeburg, Hansa Rostock, Eintracht Braunschweig, and most recently FC Erzgebirge Aue in the 3. Liga, anonymous letters to 1. FC Union Berlin contained discrimination allegations. There was no report from an affected individual through the club’s internal or external channels.
